Few places on Earth condense Iceland’s drama like the south coast between Hella and Vík.In less than 60 kilometers you pass three natural landmarks that define the island:the elegant Seljalandsfoss, the thunderous Skógafoss, and the otherworldly Reynisfjara, Iceland’s black sand beach of legends. It’s a loop of elements —...

Just outside Reykjavík, Vífilfell rises quietly from the lava plains — a compact, steep mountain shaped by subglacial eruptions during the Ice Age. Though small by Icelandic standards, its mix of volcanic rock, ice, and sweeping views makes it one of the capital area’s most rewarding short climbs. We hiked Vífilfell in December,...